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EDITOR NOTES
Version for Mac OS X 10.4-10.5 available in 'Related Links' below on this page.
DESCRIPTION
Quicksilver is a unified, extensible interface for working with applications, contacts, music, and other data.
Anyone using a computer (and the Macintosh is no exception) spends a lot of time locating files and applications, and then carrying out actions on those items. The Finder is a reasonably good tool for getting a visual overview of the contents of your disk, but it isn't ideal for quickly locating and manipulating files, especially if you have a deep and complicated folder structure, or if you prefer keyboard navigation to using the mouse.
Quicksilver allows you to find what you need quickly and easily, while keeping your hands on the keyboard. For example, if you want to launch an application hidden in the depths of your file system, simply activate Quicksilver with a keystroke, type a few letters of the application's name, then hit Return or Enter to launch it. When you don't need Quicksilver, it keeps out of your way, preserving precious screen real estate, and yet you can summon it instantly with a key stroke - just like Mercury the winged messenger. Actually, Roman mythological texts are remarkably silent on whether Mercury could be summoned with a key stroke, but it would have been great if he could. Quicksilver will certainly make you feel as if you have god-like powers.
Quicksilver indexes and parses selected parts of the contents of your hard drive in the Catalog, so that it locates and displays the items matching your search really quickly. If you are a programmer or an uber-geek, you will be glad to know that you can extend and customise Quicksilver until it does exactly what you want it to. The modular structure also means that the application will never be bloated: You only load the modules that you find useful
An older, 10.3 compatible version is available: http://getqs.blacktree.com/b36/
WHAT'S NEW
Version 1.0b58:
Etienne Samson
Henery Barnor
- Removed dangling NSLog calls
Michael Guntsche
neurolepsy
Fix droplets by using the 10.5+ NSConnection vending method The G in BROWSING no longer gets cut off in the result window Menus improved Object context menus improved Don't show object descriptions in the result window if there's not enough room (rows <34px high) Recent Items made Snow Leopard compatible Text fields only allow plain text Fix bug creating an indexSet from the UI Access plugin Fix 10.5 compilation issue
Patrick Robertson
Fixed bug #35 - Do Not Open At Login Action now working Fix bug #34 Tidying up (forgot to re-add 'else') Remove dangling NSLogs ;) Fixed relaunch action for fussy apps that did not quit straight away Removed a stray brace Commented out the loc - locator, path (for bundles) NSLog Commented out another NSLog message
Paul Kohut
Initial loop optimizations Update score ranking code NSEnumerator - loop optimization Merge branch 'NSEnumerators' into B5x Issue #39 (bug 262) Fix: Incorrect display of Websearch Turn on a couple release optimizations Fix issues 26, 47, 57 and 61 Fix lingering issue PjRobertson found Fixed single/double tap Modifier Key Activation
Version 1.0b57:- Default compiler changed to Clang, Apple's and the Open Source community's next gen compiler.
By doing that a 20 to 40% increase in runtime speed was gained while managing a catalog library with approx. 13k items. Quicksilver also feels a lot snappier too. This, of course, is mostly subjective (read: YMMV).
- Actions should now appear localized again where appropriate.
(e.g. 'Copy to...' for example in German could also be typed as 'Bewegen nach...' or 'Open' as 'Ouvrir' in French.
.lproj folders for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Danish, Finish, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish have been included. Mind you, the end result really depends on how Mac OS X handles this in the target language as Quicksilver just asks the OS for the localized representation of some common actions).
- Composed characters like German umlauts (e.g. 'ä') will now show both parts (the letter 'a' and the 'dots'. Previously only letters would show up).
- The broken action menu now shows up with a cross-selection of all enabled actions from the Actions preferences.
- The Smart Replace and Replace dialog actions no longer crash Quicksilver and will now actually append numbers via a smart numbering system if a file to be copied or moved already exists at the destination.
In order to use the Smart Replace dialog you will need to set the feature level equal to or higher than 3.To do that enter the following exactly into the Terminal and press Return: defaults write com.blacktree.Quicksilver "Feature Level" 3
- File operation requiring credentials no longer crash QS after providing the password.
- The Large Type action now keeps the text visible again for prolonged periods.
- Icons associated with custom file actions (e.g. like custom AppleScript actions) are now correctly displayed instead of a generic file placeholder icon.
- AppleScript actions which return something now cause Quicksilver to reappear again ready to use the result for the next action.
- Mouse tracking for triggers ('Mouse entered' / 'Mouse exited') now seems to work more reliably.
- The Extras pref pane no longer has a row spacing issue upon first loading of the associated NIB file.
- Excessive log outputs have been silenced to only occur if certain debugging environment variables are set in order to avoid spamming the Console.
- Dozens of API upgrades like replacing deprecated methods with safer variants or adding declaration names for the new way of handling informal protocols.
- All NIB files were converted to a SCM and collaboration friendly XIB format. A lot of clipping warnings have been fixed.
- Triggers with weird keys (like Function keys) are now displayed again.
- Updated French and German localization.
- Various other housekeeping tasks.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
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| Quicksilver User Reviews (278 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Jul 15 2010 |
I really LOVE QS, i think it is the best thing that could happened to Mac OS X. Is this software still development (i mean is it abandoned or not ? ) ? I tried other solutions then QS, but they were paid and they sucked. QuickSilver is the BEST !!!!
(Version 58) | |
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 | May 27 2010 |
UNIQUEPITO Perfect app, wich makes my work faster and effective and must be on my Mac. It haven't crashed since I've started using it (somewhen in 2008/2009?) Till now I haven't seen better or equivalent app - to be honest I don't need to seek for other "similar"... ;-)
(Version 58) | |
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| Apr 30 2010 |
MDOGNRDOG Never had it crash? Really? I LOVE QS and I can't say that. It's worth the issues, but the issues do exist.
(Version 58) | |
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| Apr 18 2010 |
GNNR0341 Quicksilver is one of those apps where it's become so much a part of my workflow that any Mac I sit at that's not one of mine with QuickSilver installed, I feel like I'm working on a foreign operating system. Over time, I went from using it for a keyboard-based launcher to my keyboard-based everything: calculator, iCal event adder, alarm, iTunes controller, script launcher, and probably a dozen other things I can't remember. I'm knocking off 1 star because it sometimes beachballs on me for a while and I have to wait. I hate to wait, which is why I use QS to begin with. I applaud the developers who keep QS going, but that coveted 5th star will require some more work on stability.
(Version 58) | |
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| Mar 22 2010 |
BENESCH First of all, many thanks to the developers who keep this fantastic app alive!!! I use Quicksilver as a launcher with very few plugins (address book and safari modules). B57 is very stable for me, no crashes, only the dropdown hangs once in a while and takes a minute to recover. B58, unfortunately, crashes all the time on my machine (Macbook C2D, 10.6.2), for now I will stick to B57.
(Version 58) | |
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| Mar 22 2010 |
SVRROOT i use this app since.... i don't know, guess ages! ;) fits perfect to My Workflow, launch an application, send a File via mail, do calculation, start browser with a special bookmark - great that all in one application can handle this on one interface - thats all!! without QS i'm lost, a must have on every mac...
(Version 58) | |
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 | Mar 20 2010 |
ARVIDTP hmmm… when I untar version 58 I get an app with the "no" symbol over the icon and a message saying its not supported on this architecture when I try to run it. "This Architecture" is OS X 10.5.8 Intel. I LOVE quicksilver and use it all the time - it has changed the way I use my computer (for the better, no question) but this version just will not work for me.
(Version 58) | |
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Replies:
| Mar 20 2010 |
ARVIDTP aww crap forget it - that was "The Unarchiver" being stupid and un-taring wrong. works now with the OS X archive helper.
(Version 58) | |
| Mar 20 2010 |
LORD LIGHTNING Well it stayed up for at least three minutes before it crashed. A new record!
(Version 58) | |
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Replies:
| Mar 20 2010 |
GAZMAN If you are having trouble with Quicksilver crashing, have a look at removing some of your installed plug-ins.
(Version 58) | |
| Mar 20 2010 |
FISHSCALE If you organize the actions to what you need and not everything you won't have any problems with QS. I have tried LaunchBar numerous times but I can not get by the little quarter sized menubar that is the entire application. If you have the patience to learn all the commands then it can be effective but I continually come back to QS. I have not had any problems with it in a long time, and when I did have a problem it would just be a short delay... never actually had the app crash. QS is still alive and as you can see being developed. With thanks to the contributors whom keep this app alive I do not need any other sort of launcher. Many thanks to all of those who contribute, there should be a donation bowl somewhere... maybe at the official repo here: http://github.com/tiennou/blacktree-alchemy/downloads . QS from startup to shutdown, the only app that meets demands and is operating at all times. If you went away from QS, I recommend you revisit the app.
(Version 58) | |
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| Mar 20 2010 |
JAZZYGUY I really like the interface. I have Launch Bar but I now prefer to use Quicksilver.I like the large icons and it runs smoothly.I have had it for years but haven't used it.This iteration is excellent.
(Version 58) | |
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